Tim Metcalfe looks forward to a visit from Zimbabwean superstar Thomas Mapfumo

Roots.net may well have closed its doors, but there's still no shortage of world-class music coming to Oxford.

Thomas Mapfumo is a case in point. He was due to play at roots.net earlier in the year, but the gig was cancelled at short notice. But now Mapfumo and his band, the 13-piece Blacks Unlimited, will finally make it to Oxford, visiting The Zodiac on Friday, July 7.

Mapfumo has defined a style of music rooted in the traditional culture of his homeland, but al;so embraces modern instrumentation. A poet and champion of social justice Mapfumo was this year named as the 'Arts, Culture and Literature Person of the Century' by the people of Zimbabwe, in honour of his outstanding achievemnets promoting his nation's culture.

Tickets, priced at 10 (concessions 8), are available from The Zodiac box office, tel 01865 420042.

A great warm-up for the up-coming Womad Festval more on which next week.